How to Fix Fortnite Stuck on “Checking for Updates”

You’ve cleared your schedule, grabbed your headset, and you’re ready to drop into Tilted Towers with your squad. You launch Fortnite, the loading screen pops up, and then… nothing. The progress bar halts, and the message “Checking for updates…” stares back at you, mocking your eagerness to play. Minutes pass. Maybe even an hour. The screen doesn’t change.

It is one of the most frustrating experiences for any gamer. You aren’t banned, the game isn’t crashing, but you are stuck in a digital limbo, unable to even reach the main menu. This issue, known as the “Checking for Updates” loop, is a common headache that plagues players across all platforms—PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile.

The good news? It is almost always fixable. This error is rarely a sign of a broken console or a corrupted hard drive. Instead, it is typically a communication breakdown between your device and the Epic Games servers.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through every possible solution to get you past that loading screen and back onto the Battle Bus. We will start with the quick fixes that take seconds and move on to deeper network troubleshooting for those stubborn cases.

Understanding the “Checking for Updates” Loop

Before we start pulling wires and changing settings, it helps to understand what is actually happening. When you launch Fortnite, the game client performs a handshake with Epic Games’ servers. It asks, “Is my version of the game the same as the current live version?”

If the answer is “No,” it downloads the patch. If the answer is “Yes,” it lets you in.

The “Checking for Updates” error occurs when this conversation gets stuck. Your client sends the question, but it never hears the answer. This silence can be caused by:

• Server Outages: Epic Games might be having technical difficulties.
• Network Glitches: Your router might be blocking the specific data packets Fortnite needs.
• Corrupted Cache: Old temporary files on your device might be confusing the game client.
• DNS Issues: Your internet service provider’s phonebook (DNS) might be pointing to the wrong server address.

Now, let’s fix it.

Phase 1: The First Responders (Quick Fixes)

These are the solutions you should try first. They are fast, easy, and solve the problem for about 50% of players.

1. Check Epic Games Server Status

Imagine spending two hours troubleshooting your router, only to find out that Fortnite is down for everyone. Before you do anything else, check the status of the game servers.

• How to check: Go to the official Epic Games Public Status page.
• What to look for: Expand the “Fortnite” section. If you see “Under Maintenance” or “Degraded Performance” next to “Login” or “Game Services,” the problem is not on your end.
• The Fix: Wait it out. Server maintenance usually lasts a few hours. No amount of troubleshooting on your PC will fix a server-side outage.

2. Restart Your Device

It’s the oldest trick in the book because it works. A restart clears your system’s RAM and closes background processes that might be interfering with the game’s connection.

• PC: Don’t just put it to sleep. Do a full “Restart” from the Start menu.
• Consoles: Turn your console off completely (not Rest Mode), wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on.

3. Restart Your Router (Power Cycle)

Your router is a mini-computer that runs 24/7. Sometimes, its memory gets clogged, leading to packet loss.

1. Unplug your router from the power outlet.
2. Wait at least 30 seconds (this ensures all capacitors discharge).
3. Plug it back in and wait for the lights to stabilize.
4. Try launching Fortnite again.

Phase 2: Network Troubleshooting

If the quick fixes didn’t work, the issue is likely a network conflict. Your internet is working for YouTube or Netflix, but it’s struggling with the specific connection Fortnite requires.

4. Switch to a Wired Connection (Ethernet)

Wi-Fi is convenient, but it is prone to interference. Walls, microwaves, and even your neighbor’s router can cause signal drops that interrupt the update check.

• The Test: Connect your PC or console directly to your router using an Ethernet cable. If the game loads instantly, you know your Wi-Fi signal is too weak or unstable for gaming.

5. Change Your DNS Servers

Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) automatically assigns you a DNS server. Sometimes, these ISP servers are slow or glitchy. Switching to a public, high-speed DNS like Google DNS or Cloudflare can bypass these traffic jams.

For PC (Windows):

1. Press Windows Key + R, type ncpa.cpl, and hit Enter.
2. Right-click your active network adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select Properties.
3. Find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and double-click it.
4. Select “Use the following DNS server addresses.”
5. Enter these values (Google DNS):
6. • Preferred: 8.8.8.8
   • Alternate: 8.8.4.4
6. Click OK and restart your computer.

For PS5/PS4:

1. Go to Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection.
2. Select your network > Advanced Settings.
3. Set DNS Settings to Manual.
4. Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8 | Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4.

For Xbox Series X/S:

1. Press the Xbox button > Profile & system > Settings > General > Network settings.
2. Select Advanced settings > DNS settings > Manual.
3. Enter 8.8.8.8 for Primary and 8.8.4.4 for Secondary.

For Switch:

1. System Settings > Internet > Internet Settings.
2. Select your network > Change Settings.
3. Scroll to DNS Settings and set to Manual.
4. Enter the Google DNS values.

6. Reset Network Settings (Windows)

If changing DNS didn’t help, your Windows network configuration might be corrupted. A network reset flushes your IP and clears the cache.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (Type cmd in search, right-click, “Run as Admin”).
2. Type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
3. • ipconfig /flushdns
   • ipconfig /release
   • ipconfig /renew
   • netsh winsock reset
3. Restart your PC.

Phase 3: Platform-Specific Fixes (PC)

PC players have more control over their files, but that also means more things can go wrong. If you are on a computer, try these steps.

7. Verify Game Files

Sometimes, the file that tells Fortnite “I am updated” gets corrupted. The Epic Games Launcher has a built-in tool to fix this.

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher.
2. Go to your Library.
3. Find Fortnite and click the three dots (…) next to the game title.
4. Select Manage.
5. Click the Verify button.
   The launcher will scan your installation files and re-download any that are missing or broken. This might take a few minutes.

8. Run Epic Games Launcher as Administrator

Windows security permissions can sometimes block the launcher from writing new update data to your disk.

1. Close Fortnite and the Epic Games Launcher completely.
2. Right-click the Epic Games Launcher shortcut on your desktop.
3. Select Run as administrator.
4. Launch Fortnite.

9. Disable Proxy Servers

Using a proxy server can confuse the game client, making it think you are connecting from a different location and causing authentication timeouts.

1. Press Windows Key + R, type inetcpl.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Go to the Connections tab and click LAN settings.
3. Uncheck the box that says “Use a proxy server for your LAN.”
4. Check “Automatically detect settings.”
5. Click OK.

Phase 4: Platform-Specific Fixes (Consoles)

Consoles are closed systems, so you can’t verify files easily. Instead, we rely on clearing the system cache.

10. Clear Cache on PlayStation (PS4/PS5)

1. Turn off the console completely.
2. Unplug the power cord from the back of the console.
3. Wait at least 30 seconds to let the internal power supply drain.
4. Plug it back in and turn it on. This forces the system to rebuild its temporary database.

11. Clear Cache on Xbox

1. Turn off the Xbox.
2. Unplug the power cable.
3. Wait 2 minutes.
4. Plug it back in. Wait for the power brick light (if you have one) to turn from white to orange.
5. Turn the console on.

12. Clear Cache on Nintendo Switch

1. Go to System Settings.
2. Scroll down to System > Formatting Options.
3. Select Reset Cache. (Don’t worry, this doesn’t delete your save data, just passwords and cookies).
4. Choose the user profile you play Fortnite with and confirm.

Phase 5: The “Nuclear” Option

If you have tried everything above—DNS changes, restarts, cache clearing—and you are still staring at “Checking for Updates,” there is one final, painful step.

13. Reinstall Fortnite

It is a massive download, and nobody wants to do it, but sometimes the installation is simply FUBAR (Fouled Up Beyond All Repair).

• Uninstall: Remove the game completely from your drive.
• Cleanup: If on PC, check your Program Files folder and manually delete any remaining “Fortnite” folders to ensure a truly clean slate.
• Reinstall: Download a fresh copy. This ensures that the latest patch is applied directly during installation, bypassing the broken update check mechanism.

Why Does This Happen So Often?

You might be wondering why Fortnite seems particularly prone to this error compared to other games. The answer lies in its “Live Service” nature.

Fortnite updates constantly. There are weekly quests, map changes, skin drops, and major seasonal overhauls. This requires the game client to be in constant synchronization with the servers. If your local version drifts even slightly out of sync—perhaps you closed the game improperly during a mini-patch—the “handshake” fails.

Furthermore, because Fortnite has millions of concurrent players, Epic Games uses a complex network of content delivery servers (CDNs). Sometimes, your ISP routes you to a CDN node that is overloaded or experiencing packet loss, resulting in the update check hanging indefinitely.

Preventing the Issue in the Future

While you can’t control Epic’s servers, you can keep your system ready to avoid this headache next time.

• Don’t Force Quit: Always close Fortnite using the “Exit Game” button in the menu. Alt-F4 or pulling the plug can corrupt the cache files.
• Keep Drivers Updated: On PC, ensure your network adapter drivers are up to date via Device Manager.
• Use Ethernet: If you are serious about gaming, wire up. It prevents the micro-disconnections that often trigger these authentication loops.

Conclusion

The “Checking for Updates” loop is a gatekeeper, barring you from the fun you deserve. But it is a gatekeeper without a key. By methodically troubleshooting your connection, refreshing your DNS, and verifying your game files, you can break past the barrier.

Start with the simple server check. Move to the router reboot. Only dive into the complex DNS settings if you have to. And remember, in the worst-case scenario, a fresh install will almost certainly fix it. The Battle Bus is waiting—don’t let a loading screen keep you grounded.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Will I lose my skins if I reinstall Fortnite?

No. Your skins, V-Bucks, and battle pass progress are stored on Epic Games’ servers, linked to your account. Uninstalling the game from your device only deletes the game files, not your account data. Once you log back in, everything will be there.

2. Why does “Checking for Updates” take so long even when it works?

Sometimes, it’s not an error; it’s just a slow update. If a new season has just launched, the update might be several gigabytes in size. The “Checking” screen might actually be verifying the huge amount of data you just downloaded. If the bar is moving, even slowly, let it sit.

3. Can a VPN fix this error?

Sometimes, yes. If your ISP is having routing issues to the Fortnite servers, a VPN can reroute your traffic through a different path, bypassing the blockage. However, be careful: using a VPN can increase lag (ping), and some games discourage their use. Use it only for testing or updating, then turn it off to play.

4. Is this error specific to my account?

Rarely. You can test this by trying to log in with a friend’s account on your device. If they also get stuck on “Checking for Updates,” the issue is definitely with your device or network, not your specific account.

5. What if I’m on mobile (Android/iOS cloud)?

For mobile users, switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data is the best test. If it works on 5G but not Wi-Fi, restart your router. If you play via Xbox Cloud Gaming on iOS, simply close the browser tab and launch a fresh session.